Hessenthaler Joins Oysters

Hessenthaler and Hare have joined Ryman League Division One South club Whitstable Town.

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However, before anyone thinks Oysters` boss Justin Luchford has persuaded the Gillingham duo of manager Andy Hessenthaler and academy boss Darren Hare to lace up their boots again, it is, in fact their two sons, Jake and Josh!

Luchford said: “Not quite Andy and Darren, but I have this week signed Jake and Josh respectively from the Gillingham Academy.

“They will both give us a little boost with regards to enthusiasm and fitness. These are two young lads that are looking to get some much-needed experience at senior level football.

“At this point of the season all the pro-clubs try to get players out on `work experience` to help their development. As part of what I hope will be a long relationship with Gillingham, Richard Langley and I decided to take two lads on `work experience` to not only help them, but to strengthen our squad as well, during a time when a lot of our players are returning from injury.

“This will allow us to ensure they recover properly and at the same time keep the strength going within the first team. What I am also hoping is that the young lads that we have at the club can train with these two lads to see the professionalism and what they need to do to get to the next level as well.

“In my opinion, this is a win-win situation.

“As you might have realised from their names, Jake is the son of the Gills` manager Andy and Josh is the son of Darren Hare, who heads up the academy at the Priestfield Stadium.

“Both are personal friends of mine and we have always had a decent working relationship in all the clubs I have been at.”